‘Dear landlords, here’s what you need to know about LGBTQ+ renters’

Generation Rent acts as a voice of private renters, campaigning to make homes safe, secure and affordable. Here, Ben Twomey, chief executive, and Tilly Smith, campaigns and partnerships officer, explain how discrimination in the rental market affects LGBTQ+ people

What a time to be a private renter in England. The Renters’ Rights Bill, a new law currently passing through Parliament, is set to give us new rights and stability in our homes in a way that many of us have never had before. Net zero targets, if done right, will grant us big improvements to our homes over the next five years. The building of 1.5 million new homes, promised by the government, could provide us with new, more affordable options in our housing. This is a positive and exciting future, and a chance to finally see happier, healthier tenants living in their homes for years to come.

However, while these changes are set to help all tenants, there is no denying that some private renters are struggling more than most and are especially in need of further support to feel safe and secure in their living accommodation.

You may be familiar with the shocking figure that one in four young homeless people identifies as LGBTQ+. This is just the tip of the iceberg of what it means to be of minoritised sexual orientation or gender identity living in the UK.

“Over a quarter (27 per cent) of LGBTQ+ people are now spending more than half of their incomes on rent”

Research conducted by Generation Rent shines a light on what greater insecurity means for LGBTQ+ people.

In our latest survey, conducted between January and March 2024 with 906 private renters, we found that LGBTQ+ private renters are struggling most against spiralling rents and the cost-of-living crisis. Over a quarter (27 per cent) of LGBTQ+ people are now spending more than half of their incomes on rent — a figure well above the 30 per cent of income considered to be
affordable.

LGBTQ+ renters are also:

57 per cent more likely than cisgender heterosexual renters to report borrowing money from family and friends;
18 per cent more likely to be using credit more often than their cis-het counterparts;
33 per cent more likely to be working extra hours to cover the increases in the cost of living.

This points to a wider problem — renters most at risk of eviction often tell us that they are too frightened to raise issues about their living accommodation, to challenge rent rises, or to report landlords and letting agents when they know they have broken the law.

There is a real danger, therefore, that LGBTQ+ renters are being forced to choose between suffering poor conditions and treatment, or risking homelessness.

We already know that LGBTQ+ private renters also experience other forms of discrimination and inequality. Previous research, conducted by Generation Rent in 2022, found that almost one in five (19 per cent) of LGBTQ+ respondents stated that they had experienced discrimination based on their gender identity or sexual orientation.

If you are a landlord who has taken the time to read this article, we know that we are almost certainly preaching to the converted — that you are someone who would not dream of discriminating against a current or potential tenant. But unfortunately, many do, and there is no denying the fact that cutting off around one in five homes will have a dramatic and harmful impact on LGBTQ+ renters in need of somewhere to live.

“The discrimination of people on the basis of sexuality and gender orientation cannot be overlooked as a driver of homelessness”

Discrimination is not only an extremely distressing and upsetting experience in itself, but it also limits the number of good-quality homes that LGBTQ+ people have access to and often forces members of the community into unsafe or unsuitable living conditions.

Our previous research found that LGBTQ+ renters were: 48 per cent more likely to have lived in unsuitable housing; 9 per cent more likely to have previously been forced to temporarily stay with friends, family or partners; 19 per cent more likely to have struggled with repairs; and 17 per cent more likely to have experienced damp and mould in their rented home.

The discrimination of people on the basis of sexuality and gender orientation cannot be overlooked as a driver of homelessness and a factor in forcing renters to endure dangerous and poor-quality homes.

The upcoming changes to the law are set to improve things for renters, and those suffering in the worst of private rented homes will feel these benefits the most. Ending Section 21 ‘no fault’ evictions, in particular, will empower renters to challenge
rent rises, to ask landlords for repairs and to be able to fully press our rights as tenants.

This will mean that, for the first time, renters in England will be able to meaningfully make their house into a home like they never have before. As long as the changes to the law are implemented well, LGBTQ+ people will be able to more easily find safe
and secure homes — something especially vital when a home isn’t guaranteed with family members or in the communities we grew up in.

“Generation Rent must keep fighting, so that no one is forced to put up with poor conditions or to face homelessnes”

A lot of landlords often regard their properties as investments or as pension pots. But, for us, they’re our homes, they’re our shelter, they’re our sanctuaries.

A home is a human right — and for those who are already marginalised and discriminated against, somewhere safe to call home is especially precious.

We are a community whose lives are often more precarious and unstable than those of cisgender heterosexual people. We are the ones who are struggling the most financially in the cost-of-living crisis, and so are in dire need of stability and the confidence to be able to live independently.

That’s why Generation Rent must keep fighting, so that no one is forced to put up with poor conditions or to face homelessness — certainly not because of their sexuality or gender identity. We will keep fighting for an effective Renters’ Rights Bill and beyond, so that everyone can live in a safe, secure and affordable home

This feature originally appeared in issue 362 of Attitude, available on the free Attitude app, or in print by subscribing or picking up a copy from your local newsagent.